Improvement in telegraphic instruments



S; BROWN. Jr. Connecting Telegraph Wires.

Patented Aug. 13,1861.

' Irv/06 W yu my, Washngfnn. n. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

SAMUEL BROWN, JR., OF NORRISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

lMPROVEMENTlN TELEGRAPHIC INSTRUMENTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 33,027, dated August 13, 1861.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL Bnown, J r., of the borough of Norristown, county of Montgomery, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Machine for Making Connections with a TelegraplrLine, constructed in the usual manner of constructing telegraphlines at any point or place along a line between the regular stations or offices, for the purpose of receiving or sending communications without interfering with the working of the line and without the knowledge of the operators working the line at the time the connection is made; and I do hereby declare that the followin g is a full and exact description thereof, reference having been had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in making a transient connection with any ordinary telegraph-line, by securing the main-line wire by means of two (2) clamps attached to a piece of wood or any other non-conductor, and when the main line is so secured by the clamps, it is separated by means of a cutter attached to the non-conductor. The circuit will then pass from the main line to the clamps, which are connected with a telegraph-magnet by the wires attached to the clamps by a cross-bar of wood or any other non-conductor.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

lconstruct my transient telegraph-connector of two (2) iron or any other metal clamps, composed of a stationary jaw, A and A, and a movable jaw, B and B, made'to clasp and hold themain-line wire by the screw 0 and C. These clamps are secured to a piece of wood, D, or any other non-conductor, by means of bolts, screws, or otherwise, and a cutter to separate the wire. This cutter is also composed of a stationary jaw, E, and movable jaw F. This cutter is made to cut the wire, and thereby open the circuit, by turning the screw Gr. When the wire is so separated by the cutter the circuit is passed from the main-line wire to the clamps, and from the clamps to the magnet by the connecting-wires M and M. These connecting-wires M and M are brought in connection with the stationary jaws A and A of the clamps, by being attached to the posts H and H by the movable crossbar I, made of wood or any other non-conductor, and secured by pressure by the center screw, L. This movable cross-bar is lined with brass or any conductor K, and by the center screws,L, is made to disconnect the wires M and M, and at the same time close the circuit by connecting the stationary plates A and A of the clamps, when the magnet and connecting wires M and M can be removed and the circuit is closed, and the line left working as though the wire had not been cut.

What I claim as my invention, and wish to secure by letters Patent, is

The clamps, as herein described, for holding the main-line wire while it is separated by the cutter, to open the circuit and prevent it from coming in contact with the ground, and the movable cross-bar I, for attaching the connecting-wires M and M to the connecting-posts H and H, and the center screw, L, for moving the cross-bar Iso as to close the circuit, by bringing the conducting facing or lining of the cross-bar in connection with the jaws A A of the clamps, substantially as herein set forth I and described.

SAML. BROWN, J R. Witnesses:

J OEL H. ANDREWS, Ooas. S. BAKER. 

